Electric-railway system



(No Model.) 3 sums-sheen 1. H. A. F. PETERSEN.

ELEGTRIG RAILWAY SYSTEM.

No. 534,662. Patented Feb. 26, 1895.

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H. A. P. PETERSEN. ELECTRIC RAILWAY SYSTEM.

s Sheets-Sheet 2Q I (No Model.)

Patnted Feb. 26, 1895.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

H. A. E. PETERSEN. ELECTRIC RAILWAY SYSTEM.

No. 534,662. 7 Patented Feb 26, 1895.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERLUF A. F. PETERSEN, OF-MILWAUKEE, VVISOONSIN.

ELECTRIC-RAILWAY SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 534,662, dated February 26, 1895.

Appli filed November 8,1893. semi 110490.354. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERLUF A. F. PETERSEN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Mil waukee, county of Milwaukee, State of Wiscousin, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric-Railway Systems; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this speci-- proved conduit. Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating a somewhat different form of construction. Fig. 3 is a similar view of another form. Fig. 4. is a similar view illustrating another form of my improvement. Fig. 5 is a similar view illustrating another form of my improvement, which may be constructed partly from underground cable conduits such as are in common useat the present time. Fig. 6 illustrates another form of my device which may also be constructed from underground cable conduits. Fig. 7 represents still another form of my improvement, which is also capable of being partially constructed from underground cable conduits. Fig. 8- is a transverse sectional view illustrating a double underground conduit embodying my invention, and adapted to be used in connection with double tracks. Fig. 9 illustrates still another form of construc: tion in which an outer casing is provided and an inner conduit or casing is arranged to extend throughout the same, with its walls at a suitable distance from the inner surface of the outer casing,to permit a circulation of air around the outside of the inner conduit or casing. Fig. 10- illustrates still another form of construction in which a coveringof material which is impervious to moisture and at the same time a non-conductor of heat is arranged upon the'outside of that part of the casing which incloses the conductors. Fig. 1l is a detailed view illustrating one form of contact device for use in connection with my improved conduit. Fig. 12 is an edge view of the same. Fig. 13* is a detail view illustrating a slightly different form of contact device. Fig. 14isadiagra1nmatic view illustrating the arrangement of ventilating apparatus within the conduit or casing or communicating therewith, and means for leg ulating the operation of said ventilating apparatus by the humidity of the atmosphere within the conduit or casing. Fig. 15il1ustrates a modification of the contact shoes.

Referring by letter to said drawings, A dos ignates a suitable casing or conduit which is divided into two or more longitudinal passages or compartments, one at least of which is arranged to contain the electrical conductors, and the other arranged to communicate at intervals with a sewer, so as to enableany accumulations of moisture or dirt to be deposited in said sewer connection, and carried off. In et ery case, I arrange the conduit or passage in which the conductors are located in such a manner within the main part of the casing, so that the opening in said compartment or passage will be protected from dirt or water which may enter the slot or opening in the upper part of the main casing, through which the trolley arm which carries the contact devices is introduced.

In the form of construction shown in Figs. 1

and 2, a suitable dividing wall, a, is secured to the lower or bottom wall of the casing A, said dividing wall being arranged to extend upwardly to a convenient point within the casing in the manner shown. In practice I find it convenient to construct the dividing wall, a, from substantially T shaped iron, the flanges of which are secured in any convenient manner to the IJWGI wall of the easing A. I also prefer to provide adjacent to the upper edge of said dividing wall, an oblique flange a, for engagement with an oblique elastic cover B, which is arranged to normally close the opening between the upper edge of said dividing wall and the side of the main casing. As shown in Fig. 1, the coverB is suitably hinged or pivoted as at b, to a shoulder or flange upon the inner face of the wall of the main casing, and is arranged to rest at. its free edge against the oblique flange a, while in Fig. 2, said cover B, is shown as pivoted or hinged at b, to the flange a and arranged to rest at its free edge against the flange upon the inner face of the casing. By this construction the casing A is divided into two longitudinal passages or conduits A A and within the latter, the conductors C C are arranged in any suitable or convenient manner as for instance being supported upon suitable brackets c c, secured to the dividingwall a, said conductors being of course, insulated from said supporting brackets. A trolley arm D is arranged to extend through the slot (1, in

the upper side of the casing, and is suitably shaped so as to extend laterally within said easing into line with the opening in the top of the conduit or passage A within which the conductors C O are located, said trolley arm being then directed downwardly and carrying a suitable pair of contact devices, D'D', adapted for engagement with the conductors G C, in the manner shown.

The trolley arm D, is arranged to engage with the cover B so as to raise the same and open the conduit or passage containing the conductors, as the trolley arm passes along the conduit, and at the point Where the lateral bend in said arm commences, a suitable collar or flange d is arranged upon said arm, so as to cause any water or moisture which may find its way down along the arm through the slot, to drip off from said flange into the passage or conduit A instead of creeping along the arm into the passage which contains the conductors.

In the form of construction shown in Fig. 3, the casing A is provided with an upwardly extending dividing wall E, which is conveniently made integral with said casing, and is provided with an oblique upper edge e. A depending slotted flange E extends from the upper wall of the casing A and a suitable vertically movable cover E has sliding engagement with said slotted flange and is normally pressed downward against the upper edge of the dividing wall E, by suitable springs 6'.

Upon the side of the movable cover E is conveniently provided aflange e, adapted for engagement with a suitable device upon the trolley arm to raise the cover E, as the trolley passes through the conduit. In this form of construction, the conductors O G, are shown as supported upon suitable brackets, c c, which are secured to the inner face of the casing A.

In the particular form shown in Fig. t, the casing A is provided with an upwardly projecting flange or wall F, to which is pivotally connected an elastic cover f, arranged to extend part way toward the top of the main casing, and normally held upward in asomewhat oblique position, by suitable springs. Vertically above the upper edge of the wall F, is

pivotallysnpported a secondelastic covering f, which is hinged or pivoted in any convenient manner to the upper wall of the casing A.

In the form of construction shown in Fig. 5, the casing A is divided into three longitudinal passages, G and G G, the former of which is connected at suitable intervals, with the sewer. and the latter each arranged to contain one of the conductors C C. The slot d in the upper part of the casingAcommunicates with the central passage G, and through this slot the trolley arm will enter the casing,

and communicate with one or both of the So compartments or passages G G. Upwardly extending dividing Walls 9 g, serve to separate the easing into these three passages or compartments, and suitable elastic covers H H are hinged or pivoted to the upper wall of the casing, and arranged to bear against the upper edges of the dividing walls 9 g, in the manner before described.

In each of the forms of construction described, flanges h h, are arranged upon the under sur-. face of the upper wall of the conduit or casing, adjacent to the sides of the slot, and extend downwardly to a sufficient degree to effectually prevent any water which may flnd 5 its way through the slot from creeping along the under surface of said wall, and thus finding its way into the conduit or passage which contains the conductors. In the particular form of construction shown in Fig. 6, these we flanges are arranged to extend downwardly for considerable distance within the casing, so as to form dividing walls or partitions, and suitable coverings H H are pivotally secured to opposite side walls of the main casing, and

normally pressed upward by suitable springs h it against the lower edges of the flanges h it. By this construction the casing is divided into three longitudinal passages, the upper ones of which contain the conductors, one no conductor being arranged in each passage and the lower passage or conduit being arranged to communicate as before described with the I sewer.

In the form shown in Fig. 7, the main cas- I [5 ing A is constructed in the same general form as that just described, but the conductors O O, are inclosed in separate elastic casings or conduits I I, which are formed from elastic sheet metal of generally tubular form, open at their lower sides, throughout their length and provided with elastic edges or flanges z i, which are arranged to rest against each other, but are also adapted to spread apart sufficiently to admit the trolley arm which carries the contact device.

In the particular form of construction shown in Fig. 8; thedouble conduitis formed from several kinds of commercial iron, the

top and bottom plates being made of flat 13o plates, the sides being made from channel iron, the dividing wall between the two conduits from I beams, and another channel iron being arranged upon the under side of suitable downwardly extending 9o the upper plate and having its flanges directed downwardly so as to form partial divisions in the manner shown. Secured to the bottom of each of the main compartments or divisions is an upwardly extending rail J, to which is pivotally secured an elastic covering J which'is arranged to rest in an oblique position against one of the flanges j of the up: per channel iron. In this form of construction the casing is divided into four longitudinalpassages or conduits, the outer ones K.K of which communicate with slots k is, through which the trolley arms are introduced, and the inner ones of said passages or conduits K K being arranged to contain the conductors which may be supported in any suitable or desired manner, either from the bottom or side walls of said conduits or passages.

. In the particular form of construction shown in Fig. 9, the casing A is of the same general construction as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and asmalle'r casing L is arranged to extend longitudinally throughout said casing A, being supported upon suitable brackets or separators Z Z, which are interposed between the wall of the main casing A and the wall of the inner casing L, so as to support the latter at a convenient distance from the inner surface of the main casing. An elastic cover L is arranged to normally close the opening in the upper side of the casing L in substantially the same manner as before described.

In the form shown in Fig. 10, the main casing A is of the same construction as shown in Fig. 1, and the dividing wall a and the elastic cover B are arranged in the same manner as shown in said Fig. 1. Upon the outside of the main casing A is provided a covering M of suitable material impervious to moisture and at the same time a non-conductor of heat, which covering is arranged to extend around that portion of the main casing within which the conductors G O are located. In these two latter forms of construction, the liability of the inner conduit or that portion of the main conduit, which contains the conductors, sweating is obviated by the arrangement of the air space in the one instance, and a non-c'onducting covering in the other, inasmuch as by the constructions the inner and outer surfaces of the walls of the conduit or passage which contains the conductors are maintained at the same temperature.

Any suitable or desired form of contact devices may be employed,either such a" form of construction as illustrated in my prior application for patent filed March 10, 1893, Serial No. 465,379, or a suitable frictional contact device such as is illustrated in Figs. 11, 12'

of suitable pivoted arms N N so as to enable the shoes to be removed and replaced by new ones when they have become excessively worn. The contact shoes may, if desired, be also provided with suitable guard flanges n n, as in Fig. 15, to prevent any liability of their slipping oft from the conductors.

Any suitable or desired means may be employed for maintaining a circulation of dry or heated air through the passage or passages in which the conducting wires or rails are located in order to maintain perfectly dry conductors. To this end I may-employ substantially the means illustratedin my prior application for patent aforesaid,- or if desired, suitable ventilating mechanism comprising preferably an electric motor, and a fan actuated thereby may be located at any convenient point or points within the casing of my improved conduit, or within manholes, which communicate with that part of the casing in which the conductors are located; or it desired, a suitable ventilating fan might be ar-' ranged upon the lower end of the trolley arm.

In the particular form shown in Fig-14, an electric motor 0 is located within a suitable manhole communicating with the conduit or passage in which the conductors are located, said motor being arranged to actuate a fan 0. Circuit wires 0 0 lead respectively to opposite holes of the motor the latter being connected directly to one of the conductors or line wires, while the other leads to a suitable switch or cut-out device P, which is adapted to make contact with a contact block 10, electrically connected with the other conductor. The free end of this lever is operatively connected with a suitable longitudinally movable rod Q, which plays lengthwise through the centers of a pair of electro-magnets R R and carries at its central part a movable disk or armature Q of soft iron. Qne ter-' minal of each of the electro-magnets is connected with one of theline wires and the other terminal with a suitable contact point or block (1 to which is pivotally secured a lever q. adapted to make electrical connection with a second contact point 1. These contact points are electrically connected with posts S S in which are arranged adj ustahle contact screws 8 s. A lever T is arranged to rest at its'free end betweenv the extremities of its contact screws 8 s, and is pivoted at its other end to a post t, which is electrically connected with one of the line wires. The free end of the lever 'l is engaged with a spring T which is secured to a post or other stationary support t at one side of the lever. A cord U is also engaged with the free end of the lever and extends in a direction opposite to the spring, and is engaged at its other end with a suitable device which is arranged so as to be affected by the humidity of the atmosphere. Any desired form of device of this nature may be employed, but I find it convenient to employ substantially the form of construction shown in the drawings, in which a strip or disk of rawhide,sheepskin, or other analogous material U is stretched between suitable supports at, and is engaged at its central part with the cord U. The adjustment of these parts is such, that when the rawhide U is stretched taut, between its supports, as would be the case when the air Within the conduit remains dry, the cord will be drawn by the tension of the rawhide so as to hold the free .end of the lever T against one of the contact screws 8. In this condition the current from the line would pass over the wire V to post 15, through the lever T to screw 3, thence to the contact 0, through switch bar q, post g and the electro magnet R at the right hand of the diagram, and thence through the wire U to the other line wire. This would energize the electro magnet and cause it to attract the armature Q in an obvious manner, so as to move the switch lever P off from the contact blockp onto a dead contact at the same time moving the right hand lever q oft from the contact 1", and simultaneously moving the other switch lever into contact with the other post r, these two contact levers being operatively connected with the armature Q by means of a suitable transverse connecting bar 0''.

Now in case of the accumulation of moisture within the conduit which contains the conductors, the moisture of the air will cause the rawhide to relax so that the tension of the spring T will move the lever T into engagement with the opposite contact screw, thus closing the circuit through the other electromagnet and causing an opposite movement of the armature. By this movement of the parts, the switch lever P will be moved into contact with the block 19, so as to permit current to traverse the motor and thereby create a circulation of air by means of the fan to absorb the moisture in the conduit. This operation will be continued until by the drying out of the air the rawhide is caused to contract sufliciently to move the free end of the switch leverT into engagement with the other contact screw when the right hand electromagnet R will be energized and the armature Q attracted so as to produce an opposite movement of the connected parts. This obviously cuts out the motor and simultaneously adjusts the contact devices so that a relaxation of the tension upon the lever T will serve to close a circuit through the other electro-magnet, and thus adjust the switch so as to start the motor again.

By my improved construction the openings into the conduits or passages which contain the conductors being located so as to prevent the entrance of dirt or water which may find its way through the slot in the main casing, and the openings communicating with said passages being protected by movable closing devices all liability of the admission of dirt or moisture which may find its way through said slot is obviated. The tendency of water findingits way along the-inner faces of the casing into the portion of the conduit which contains the conductors, is further prevented by the depending flanges at the sides of the slot, from which such moisture would drip into the part of the conduit or casing which communicates with the sewer.

By means of the device for creating a circulation of air within the conduit or casing, the dryness of the conductors and of the conduit or passage, containing the same is still further insured, while by means of the automatic mechanism for stopping and starting the ventilating apparatus, said apparatus is caused to operate only in case of moisture within the conduit and is automatically thrownout of operation as soon as the air with in the conduit has become sufficiently dry.

Several of the forms of construction shown in the drawings, are designed for use in connection with existing forms of underground cable conduit-s, it being only necessary to divide the conduits or easing into the required number of compartments by inserting suitable partitions, and arranging suitable elastic closing devices to normally close the passages or compartments in which the conductors are located.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. An underground conduit for electric railway conductors comprising a suitable casing divided into a plurality of longitudinal passages or compartments, one of which is arranged to communicate at intervals with a sewer, and provided in its upper walls with a longitudinal slot, and another of said pas- 1 sages being arranged to contain the conductors, and provided with a longitudinal opening a suitable device movably engaged with the sides of said opening and adapted to normally close the same, blower mechanism, arranged to discharge into the passage containing the conductors and adapted to produce a circulation of air therein,and suitable means for automatically controlling the operation of said blower mechanism, substantially as described.

2. An underground cond uitfor electric railway conductors comprising a suitable casing divided into a plurality of longitudinal passages or compartments one of which is ar-' ranged to communicate at intervals with a sewer, and provided in its upper Wall with a longitudinal slot and another of said passages being arranged to contain the conductors and provided with a longitudinal opening, a suitable cover arranged to normally close said opening, blower mechanism arranged to discharge into the passage, containing the conductors, an electric motor for actuating said blower, a switch for controlling the motor, and a suitable device, sensitive to moisture and adapted to operate the switch to stop or start the motor automatically, substantially as described.

3. An underground conduit for electric railway conductors, comprising a suitable casing divided into a plurality of longitudinal passages or compartments one of which is arranged to communicate at intervals with a sewer, and provided in its upper wall with a longitudinal slot and another of said passages being arranged to contain the conductors and provided with a longitudinal opening, a suitable cover arranged to normally close said opening, blower mechanism arranged to discharge into the passage containing the conductors, and comprising an electric motor and a fan actuated thereby, aswitch for controlling the motor, asuitable device'connected with said switch and with a device sensitive to moisture, whereby the switch is adjusted .so as to start the motor when the air in the conduit becomes moist, or to cut out the motor when the air has become dry, substantially as described.

4. The combination with an underground conduit for electric wires of a ventilating apparatus, comprising a blower arranged to discharge into the conduit, a motor for actuating said blower, a switch for controlling the motor, suitable means for normally holding the switch in position to cut out the motor, and adapted to be relaxed by moisture in the air so as to adjust the switch to start the motor, substantially as described.

5. The combination with an underground conduit for electric wires, of a ventilating apparatus comprising a blower arranged to discharge into the conduit, a motor for actuating said blower, a switch for controlling the motor, electro-magnets for throwing the switch in opposite directions, and a device sensitive to moisture and adapted to complete an electric circuit through one or the other of said magnets so as to adjust the switch to stop or start the motor, substantially as described.

6. The combination with an underground conduit for electric conductors, of a blower 0 arranged to discharge into said conduit, an actuating motor 0, switch P, connecting bar Q, electro-magnets R R, armature Q, switch levers g g, connection r, contact bar T, tension device T, and opposed tension devices U U, all constructed and adapted to operate substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

HERLUF A. F. PETERSEN.

Witnesses:

JOHN E. WILES, M. M. WILES. 

